The filmmaker talks about escaping the existing clichés and stereotypes to present a Vijay film that is different from the films the star has done till date.
The filmmaker talks about escaping stereotypes to present a Vijay film that is different from what the star has done so far
For Nelson Dilipkumar the magnitude of a project doesn’t matter as long as the script written by him has a beginning, struggle and resolution. He says that first an idea comes and when he elaborates it, he makes sure that it has these three important script elements.
But when he was told about a possible opportunity to direct Vijay, he faced two challenges. That this ‘population’ would satisfy the audience, but at the same time, be a “different kind” of Vijay film: Animal There is no ‘Hero Parichay’ song and very little space for lyrics.
A fan of the heist genre, Nelson was used to telling people that Vijay would not agree, given that the star is used to starring in a certain type of film, he gave it a shot and it paid off.
A Still from ‘Beast’ | photo credit: special arrangement
Nelson says Vijay was particularly impressed by Veera Raghavan (the character he plays) Animal), which reflects the real life personality of the actor – as a man who is stubborn and shy. “He [Vijay] Loved the story and from my side I was looking to see what I could do with it. There is violence in the film but there was no restriction on Vijay sir’s part; He didn’t impose his opinion on me,” he says.
He wanted Veera Raghavan, a RAW agent, to adopt a certain style and approach. john wick, “The character has the demeanor of a thug,” he adds.
break barriers
This is not the first time Nelson has challenged himself by breaking popular stereotypes and beliefs. in doctorKnown for his comic timing and known as an entertainer, he completely changed the image of Sivakarthikeyan, and made him curtsy which worked well. Similarly, in Kolamavu NightingaleHe made a black comedy based on the life and death situation of a family.
The reason his two films struck a chord with the audience was because of this ‘challenge’ and he hopes to repeat it again Animal, “I think I know how to and how not to use an actor; What are their pluses and also, what clichés can you avoid. When I write scripts for a star like Vijay sir, I take care of all these things. However, I don’t force myself to do anything different. It has to come naturally,” he says.
The other catch was that 80% of the film takes place inside a mall. That means no new locations, no colorful outfits. “It also had logistical challenges Animal, We couldn’t shoot Vijay sir in a mall so we had to build a real mall. That alone took five months. ,
Superstar Directing
Nelson begins work Animal when its second characteristic doctor was still in production. Luckily this time, Nelson says, he has time to breathe. Thalaivar 169In which he will direct Rajinikanth. Incidentally, it was Vijay who suggested that Nelson work with the superstar.
“During the shoot, Vijay sir told me that Rajni sir is independent and ready to listen to the script. When I told Vijay sir that I couldn’t match Rajni sir’s way of working, he said, ‘Think about it for a few days and work on it’.
Is there a higher chance of falling, especially when you ‘experiment’ with a big star like Vijay? “Yes, but that’s also the advantage of the film. Doing this doctor stood out. I want my films to have a distinct identity.”
Some believe that Nelson’s impression of him as a filmmaker is in the way he puts black humor in the script. But he feels his USP is entertainment – “head to tail, it needs to be entertaining. Also, it has to be of quality.”
Nelson Dilipkumar | photo credit: special arrangement
Nelson has earned a reputation for his trailers; trailer for doctor Denied the actual film. He believes that the trailer is the three minutes of the film that needs to be treated separately, “From beginning to end, it needs to tease you. A trailer should convey the mood of a film and the film will surprise you.” Unlike my previous films, AnimalThe trailer of the film is close.”
The veteran filmmaker of three films started his career under the direction of Nayanthara Kolamavu NightingaleAfter that in Sivakarthikeyan doctor, Next, he will be directing a film with Rajinikanth… Is there a sense of achieving too much too soon? “Not at all. It may be a choice to an outsider as I have back-to-back releases. But only I know how many years I have invested to become where I am now,” He concluded.